Computed tomography of suppurative and neoplastic diseases involving the canine omenta and omental bursa

Abstract

The greater and lesser omenta are fused peritoneal folds that largely delimit the omental bursa (lesser peritoneal cavity). The omental bursa is a potential space within the abdominal cavity that communicates with the greater peritoneal cavity via the omental (epiploic) foramen: it is subdivided into the omental vestibule, caudal omental recess, and splenic recess. Aims of this retrospective case series study were to describe the frequencies of CT findings of dogs with confirmed inflammatory or neoplastic disease of the omenta, omental bursa, or both. The sample included seven adult, medium‐to‐large breed dogs. All had fluid in the greater peritoneal cavity and 5/7 (71%) dogs also had fluid in the omental bursa. Primary suppurative inflammatory disease was present in three dogs, each dog had a large abscess with central gas in either the omental vestibule (two dogs) or caudal omental recess (one dog). Both abscesses in the omental vestibule arose from the papillary process of the caudate liver lobe and were surgically removed without complication. Neoplasia was present in four dogs and either arose from omentum (hemangiosarcoma, carcinoma) or infiltrated the omentum from an adjacent organ (splenic leiomyosarcoma, gastric adenocarcinoma). Neoplasms created mass‐like tumors, infiltrative tumors, or both and had variable distribution (focal, multifocal, or locally extensive). All dogs with neoplasia were euthanized. CT signs of inflammatory and neoplastic disease overlapped, but the presence of gas might prioritize abscessation. CT signs helped decide feasibility of surgery based on extent of local invasion, especially involvement of structures passing through the porta hepatis.

Computed tomography of a canine omental torsion secondary to a chronic abdominal gossypiboma and concurrent incidental broad ligament torsion

“…[12][13][14][15] In a recent retrospective study on canine omental and omental bursa disease, there were no reports of omental torsion within the 12-year study period, further attesting to the rarity of this condition. 16 Omental torsion occurs when the omental pedicle rotates along its long axis, causing subsequent vascular occlusion. 11 Torsions are classified as either primary-with spontaneous torsion of the free omental leaf-or secondary-with intra-abdominal pathologies creating adhesions to the distal omentum and subsequent torsion around this fixed point.…”